There’s not much Americans love more than a royal wedding, but many are over the moon that Meghan Markle is a biracial American marrying into the crown across the pond.
Markle’s race is something she has discussed in the past: In 2015 she penned an essay for Elle magazine explaining that people are always asking her, “What are you?,” to which she has to explain that her mother is African American and her father is caucasian.
By marrying Prince Harry, she will be the first “divorced, biracial, Jewish American actress to join the British royal family,” according to USA Today. But, unlike how many on social media have labeled her a “princess,” she will not carry that title. Instead, Markle will have the title of duchess.
Markle’s mixed heritage is inspiring many online. “It’s like a real life fairy tale,” one Twitter user said.
See more reactions here:
https://twitter.com/jazvondee/status/935181617424986112
My grandma is a royal family junkie, but I haven't been more than mildly interested since Princess Di. But actress Meghan Markle as a black/biracial Jewish American princess? You got me.?
— ???? ? (@bleuangel88) November 27, 2017
#Biracial@Buckingham whoop whoop! I️ thought Biracial president was cool, but princess is priceless! ????
— Tj (@riotrantrave) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/ReyneeR86/status/935178109548204035
Meghan Markle will be the first biracial princess the British royal family's ever had, and some PEOPLE ARE THRILLED ABOUT IT. pic.twitter.com/TQCUnNma9s
— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/ohthatssydd/status/935177654092759040
https://twitter.com/DoThaFandango/status/935175675316596736
A BIRACIAL PRINCESS?? pic.twitter.com/QVymEmXtbE
— kiki ? (@bleubirdhoney) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/hi_michelle_/status/935172697587412992
A BIRACIAL WOMAN IS A GOING TO BE A PRINCESS 2017 U DOING UR THING #RoyalEngagement #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/R5GD7XLX3B
— raisa (@malikmyselfie) November 27, 2017
I’m a little too excited that the UK getting a biracial American princess from LA! Generations of colonialist royals must be rolling over in their racist graves ?
— Nicole Holliday (@mixedlinguist) November 27, 2017
I can't handle all of these people sad that Prince Harry is off the market. We're literally getting a stunning, biracial, American princess that Harry LOVES.
— Becky (@becksontap) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/acrookedkingdom/status/935170226445881344
I'm super excited about #PrinceHarry and #MeghanMarkle's engagement! Not only will she be the first biracial British princess, she's just a regular girl not already part of that aristocratic lifestyle. It's like a real-life fairy tale! ???
— Janna G. Noelle (@jgnoelle) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/michellenation/status/935165179821572096
My mind has melted from all the GOP tax scam, russiagate, child molesting senatorial candidates. Im ok with seeing a nice puff piece about a hot ginger prince and the diamond he created for his gorgeous biracial princess bride. Now, back to armageddon already in progress…
— Jerry Lambert (@JerryLambert70) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/poshwithpennies/status/935162798648254465
In her Elle essay, Markle recalled filling out a census in seventh grade, but the only options for ethnicity were white, black, Hispanic or Asian. “There I was (my curly hair, my freckled face, my pale skin, my mixed race) looking down at these boxes, not wanting to mess up, but not knowing what to do,” she wrote. “You could only choose one, but that would be to choose one parent over the other – and one half of myself over the other.”
Markle ended up leaving the box blank. Her dad later told her, “If that happens again, you draw your own box.”
Markle went on to describe how she did just that throughout her life and career (you can read her full essay here).
And now, by agreeing to marry Prince Harry, Markle continues to draw her own box.